Valve



R. D. WEBB Feb. 10, 1925.

VALVE Original. Filed Feb. 2 1918 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /e/z/vr fra 9. WM@ @fz/hm, @i5 MM #YM Feb'. 10, 1925. 1,525,839

R, D. WEBB VALVE v origina; mg@ Feb. a? 191e s sheets-sheet 2 y M, fa/Ml Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALVE.

Original application filed February 2, .1918, Serial No'. 215,159. Divided and this application filed July 15, 1921. Serial No. 484,891.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. l/Vnn, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Minden, lebster Parish, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The ,present invention relates to valves and particularly to valves. adapted to control the flow of motive fluid to and from high pressure cylinders such as steam cylinders. In my copending application Serial No. 215,159, filed February 2, 1918, l describe and illustrate a cotton compress having no-vel means for operating the side plates thereof. One element of such means consisted in a novel valve andthe present application, a division of the aforementioned application, describes and claims the valve therein illustrated. 1n order that the valve may be fully understood and its advantages clearly brought out it is hereinafter describedas an element of the compress mentioned but it will be understood that it is of universal application and is not limited in its use to cotton compresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the compress, the pipes for conducting the motive fluid to the cylinders operating the side plates being in dotted line;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the upper portion of the compress showing the improved valve;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mechauism illustrated in Figui-e2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the novel valve for controlling the passage of motive Huid to and from the side plate operating the cylinder;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 4 the valve plug being removed;

Figure 6 is a side view of the valve plug; and j Figure 7 is a sectional view of the plug portion taken along line 7 7 of Figure 6.

The compress will not be described in detail as its. construction and mode of operation are fully discussed in the paten-t to S. J. Webb, 828,002 issued August 7, 1906. As an understanding of its movements is an aid to a complete understanding of the operation of the valve, its general features will now be brielly stated.

The frame 10 of the compress supports upon its upper end a main steam cylinder 1l, in which a piston 12 is adapted to reciprocate this piston being connected by means of a rod 13 and other suitable members with the movable platen 14. Securely fastened to the heavy frame is a stationary platen 15 and between the platens 14 and 15 the bales of cotton orl other bales are compressed when steam is admitted into the cylinder 11, to raise the piston 12 with its connected mechanism. In the operation of compressing the bale, however, means is provided for reducing the cross sectional area of the bale and confining the same laterally and this means comprises two side plates 16 and 17 pivoted to a stationary part of the press by pivots 18 at each side of the platen 14.

When a plantation bale is brought to the press it is placed between the widely separated platens 14 and 15 and occupies a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, resting upon the inner edges of the side plat-es 16 and 17. Before the platen 14 is moved upward, however, to ycompress the bale, the side plates 16 `and 17 are revolved about their pivoted lower edges to assume vertical positions thereby displacing the cotton in the plantation bale and causing it to have a smaller transverse area but a greater height. `When the shape of the plantation bale has'thus been altered, it is compressed between the platens 14 and 15 and then tied in the usual manner.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the sidel plates 16 and 17 comprises toggle 'links 19, 19, and 20, 20 pivoted respectively to the side Vplates 16 and 17 at 21, 21 and to cross pins 22, 22, rigidly held at a suitaLble distance from the frame `10 by means of tie rods 23, 23, and 24, 24, the links 19, 19 and 20, 20, being pivotally connected together at 25, 25. To the pins are connected the lower ends of connecting rods 26 which extend upwardly and are pivoted at their upper ends to cross heads 27 slidably mounted on guides 28 secured to the frame 10. To the cross heads 27 are connected the lower ends of the piston rods 29 which eXte-nd upwardly therefrom and are secured at their upper ends to pistons 30 operating in the auxiliary steam cylinders 31. These cylinders and pistons constitute the means for actuating the side plate operating mechanism and a motive fluid is supplied .to the auxiliary cylinders 81 beneath the pistons 2:30, the

or conduit 33 with one port of a four-way valve 34. The lower' ends of cylinders 31 are connected together' by means ot a pipe or conduit: 25 having a' short branch 35 communicating with a, secondi port of. the four-way valve 34., The other` ports ot the valve areconnected respectively to a source ot steam supply by means a pipe 37, and to theoutSide air or a suitable condenser, by means orI a pipe or conduit` 3S. T he valve is shown in detail in Figures 4 to T inclusive, in which the valve both/'39 is shown as having` two pairs ot'l opposed openings so that it closely resembles in exterior' appearance the usual, common, four-way pipe connection.

A central cylindrical recess 40, open at one end, extends nearly throi'lgh the body and tour rectangular' ports 4l, 142, 43and 44 bring this recess 4() into communication with the i'our openings in the casing, the ports 42, 43 and 44 being allarranged on one side of a central line through the valve casing, as line 5 5 of Figure 4. Mounted for rotation within the cylindrical. recess 40 is a cylindrical plug 45 having the. recesses or passages 46 and 47 leaving a comparatively large bearing surface 48 and a comparatively small bearing surface 49 on opposite sides thereof adapted to seat against the wall of he valve body in the usual manner. This plug 45 is adapted to occupy one ott-hree positions in the operationv of the compress. In Figure 4 I have indicatedl by means of full anddotted lines these positions. then the valve has been turned to. its 'full line position as shown'in this ligure, no two ot the ports communicate with each other; when it is turned to the dotted position 50 the ports 41 and 42 are brought into communication and-also the ports 43 and 44. Then it is turned to the dotted line position 51,

the ports 42 and 43 alone communicate, the' ports 41 and 44 being closed.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3. of the drawing, the pipe 37 is soconnectedto the valve body 39 that the port 41.is an inlet port for the steam coming from tie boiler. The pipe 33 leading to the tops oi' the cylinders is connectedto communicate with the port 43, the pipes 35 communicate with the port 42, andthe pipe 38 communicates with the port 44. Thus the ports'4l. and 44areinlet. and exhaust ports respectively, while the ports 42 and 48 may be either inlet or exhaust ports, depending upon the position. ot. the. valve. i

In the operation ofv the. compress, when it is. desired to raise the side plates the plug 45 is turned by means of a handle 52 to occupy the dotted line. position 50 connecting the ports 41 and 42, and also 43 and 44 respectively, and allowing steam to pass through the valve from the supply pipe 37 into the pipes 35A and under the pistons 30, which are raised thereby, the steam above the pistons being simultaneously exhausted through the pipes 32, and ports 43 and 44 and pipe 38.

When it is desired to lower the side plates the plu'O 13. is turned. until it occupies the dotted. line position 51. of-Figure 4, inwhich case the ports 42 and 43 only arev brought into communication, thereby connecting. the tops of the cylinders. with the lower vends and cutting` oit-the inlet and exhaust. -When in this position the pressures on. the upper and lower sides of the pistons are equab iZed, the steam passing. from beneath the piston through ports 42 and 43. to top. of pistons, and the pistons are tree to drop due to their own weight and the weight of the attached mechanism, thereby lowering the side plates. The bale of cotton is then. re` moved. and a fresh plantation bale placed in the machine. and the. cycle of operations repeated, it being understood ot-course that the movable main. platen 14. performs the actual compressing. ot' the cotton duringthe time when the side plates are in their verticall position.

By connecting the bottom and top ot the cylinder in thismanner to lower thepistons and side. plates, a considerable saving oi steam. is effected inasmuch. as thek pistons fallzof theirown weightand it is not necessarytov introduce steam pressure into the cylinders abovethem todrive. them down as was theA case heretofore. The speed of the machine is. also increased since. if it. were necessary to exhaust the steam each time from underneath thepistons directly into the open air, these pistons wouldnotbegin to fall so quickly and thereby delay the allol'i the side plates.

-leretofore in operating ompresses ot this type it has been foundinecessary to iutroduce livekstem into the cylinders above the pistons in order to drive them down quickly, thus using alarge amount. of steam for merely returning the. side plates to horizontalposition, andv when theY live steam pressure on the top of the pistons became greaterthan thati beneath thessame, the operation beeame moreorless dangerous, and was likely to cause a bad break and to endanger.the,operatives. lith my improved valve and combination of. pipe connections described, it. is impossible tointroduee live steam above thepstons and thepressure on the tops of the pistons can never be greater thanthat underneath, thus making the operation of the machine safe and more economical- Bue to the form of valve used, leakage of steam from the supply pipe to the cylinders is prevented as the ports 42, 43 and 44 are located at one side of an axial plane and the fluid pressure acting in the recess 47 against y the plug forces the same against the inner wall of the body at all times and, as it moves from one position to the other, causes it to firmly seat and thus prevent leakage between the plug and body being thus selfpacling. This is important also in a machine of this type because it is very undesirable that any steam should leak to the top of the piston when the valve is closed thus allowing the pistons to come down unexpectedly.

lVith this type of valve also the exhaust outlet from the top of the cylinders leading to the outer air may bel reduced in area or throttled (as shown in Figure 4) and the live steam inlet pipes and ports leading from the boiler and to the bottom of cylinder enlarged as shown so that the pistons move .simultaneously when steam is admitted under them and do not rise one after the other, as is ofte-n the case when steam is admitted slowly, unless complicated and expensive devices are employed. The use of this valve renders unnecessary these auxiliary equalizing devices thus rendering the compress simpler and more eliicient since these mechanisms are hard to adjust and are easily disarranged.

I-Iaving thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a valve, a hollow valve body having four ports only therein, a single plug in said body and constituting a rotatable partition, said plug being adapted to prevent communication between any of said ports when in one position, to bring two adjacent ports only into communication when turned to a second position, and to bring said ports into communication in pairs when turned to a third position.

2. In a valve, a hollow valve body having two inlet and two outlet ports therein, and a single plug in said body adapted to prevent communication between any of said ports when in one position, to bring one inlet and one outlet port only into communication when in a second position, and to bring each inlet port into communication with an outlet port when in a third position.

3. In a valve, a hollow valve body having two inlet and two outlet ports therein, and a plug therein having a wedge shaped cross section, said plug constituting a rotatable partition and being adapted to prevent communication between any of said ports when in one position, to bring one inlet and one outlet port only into communication when in a second position, and to bring each inlet port into communication with an outlet port when in a third position.

4. In a valve, a body having two inlet and two outlet ports therein, three of said ports being to one side of a plane through the axis of the valve casing, and a plug therein of substantially wedge shaped cross section and having relatively large and relatively small opposed surfaces adapted to 'bear against the wall of said casing, said valve being adapted to prevent communication between any of said ports when in one position, to bring one inlet and one outlet port only into communication when in a second position, and to bring each inlet port into communication with an outlet port when in a third position.

5. In a valve, a hollow valve body having four spaced ports therein, and a rotatable plug of substantially wedge shaped cross section in said body and having relatively large and relatively small opposed surfaces adapted to bear against the wall of said body, three of the spaces between said ports being substantially equal to the small end of said plug, and the remaining space being sibstantially equal to the large end of said p ug.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein one of said ports, constituting an outlet port, is restricted in area relatively to the other ports, as and for the purpose described. Y

7 In a valve, a hollow valve body having` four ports therein, and a rotatable plug in said 'body adapted to prevent communication between any of said ports when in one position, to bring two adjacent ports only into communication when turned to a second position, and to bring said ports into .conimunication in pairs when turned to a third position, one of said ports constituting an outlet port and being restricted in area relatively to the other ports.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ROBERT D. WEBB 

